Table



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheetl1.

. F. 0. LAPLIN.

TABLE.

No. 516,262. Pat-enfe'dvflvrarfia,1&94;

' /m/E/vron y 77/M6 w'q ATTORNEY.

Nrrno STATES i FRANK. O. OLAFLIN, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

TABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 516,262, dated March 13, 1894. Application iiled September 22,1892. Serial No. 446,576. (No modell) T0 all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK. O. CLAFLIN, of Boston, in the county of Su Folk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Tables, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specication.

The object of my invention is to provide a table of neat and ornamental appearance and character, which shall be serviceable alike for ordinary purposes and, when required, as a convenient receptacle and exhibition stand for pictures and similar objects.

The invention consistsin a table having, or provided with, certain new and improved features which I now will proceed to describe with reference to the accompanying drawings, and afterward will particularly point out and distinctly define in the claims at the close of this specification.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective of a table having my invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a view in central vertical section of a portion of the said table. Fig. 3 is a view ofv similar character showing a modiiication. Fig. 4 is a partly sectional view in side elevation showing certain modifications which are described hereinafter. Fig. 5 is a view of a detail shown in Fig. 4. Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are views in plan of other details that areshown in Fig. 4. Fig. 9 is a view in vertical section showing still another modification.

At A in the drawings is the tabletop, which is mounted suitably upon a base or standard B, on which it may be supported in the Inanner that is represented in Figs. 2 and 3 so as to enable it to be revolved when desired. In the said Figs. 2 and v3 the top A is shown provided With a depending hub portion B the lowerpart of which enters an opening in the upper part of the base or standard B, and may be left free to turn therein. The top A is shown circular, but, as is obvious, it may be of any other desirable shape. The said top A is formed or provided around its periphery with a series of compartments G, which are located at a suitable distance apart, and are fitted to serve as a receptacle forpictures or other small articles. These compartments have, above the same, covers or lids I which are hinged at their inner endsin a manlids or covers are thrown back into their raised and open positions the photographs mounted thereon will be displayed in a novel and attractive manner. When the lids or covers are closed down the photographs applied thereto will be concealed. The outer wall H of each compartment G is formed to receive and frame a photograph, as shown, and preferably is hinged so that it may be swung open to give access to the compartment from the side and afterward closed into place again. Preferably, the* said outer wall H, which constitutes a second movable lid or cover for the compartment, is hinged at or near the upper end thereof, as shown in Fig. l. It is intended that a photograph shall be applied to the exterior of each cover or frame H and also to the under side of each of the lids or covers I. When the said lids or covers I are placed in their raised positions the photographs carried thereby will constitute a group or series extending around the table and standing above the general level of the upper side of the table-top.

For the support of additional photographs I provide a picture holder or stand which is placed upon the table-top and raised to some height above the same. This holder preferably is of conical form when in position for use, and is provided with clips or other means for holding the photographs to it. In Fig. 1 the holder is shown applied to the table-top and with a few photographs in place thereon. The holder shown in Fig. 1 consists of a series of bars or strips E, E, E each provided with aseries of clips or other devices for holding photographs or the like, and all pivotally connected at their upper ends, as at D, in Figs. l and 2, to a central block or piece C in such manner as to permit their free ends to ICO move radially toward and from a line passing vertically through the center of the said block tral block or piece C of considerable length as shown. When the bars or strips E, E are expanded so as to give the holder the conical form shown in Fig. l, the lower ends of the said bars or strips E, F. may be rested upon the uppersurface ot the table-topin the manner shown in Fig. l. I prefer to dispose of the holder when the same has been collapsed, by makinga' hole F, see Fig. 2, through the table-top centrally thereof communicating with the interior of the post or standard B, which latter is made hollow, and dropping the collapsed holder into the said hole. The said hole F may be omitted however as shown in Fig. 3.

I may form the conical holder by attaching to the rear side of each lid or cover I a lazy tongs arrangement K, see Figs. 4 and-5, the latter of which shows the said lazy tongs arrangement in contracted condition while the former shows it extended. The said lazy tongs arrangement has its lower end attached to the under side of a lid or cover I and it is provided with means for holding photographs. When all the lids or covers I have been thrown back or raised, as in Fig. 4, and the lazy tongs arrangement all have been extended, the upper ends of the said arrangement meet at the center and may be connected together in any suitable manner.

In some cases I may set the frames or covers H in slightly from the vertical surface of the side of the table-top, in the manner shown at the right in Fig. 4, and in Fig. 8, and, in addition may provide doors L, L which are pivoted or hinged at the sides of the recess in which a frame or cover I-I is located. When the said doors L, L are employed, the outer end of the adjacent lid or cover I `may be provided on its under surface with a downwardly projecting lip N, see Fig. 9, adapted to pass in front of the said doors L, L and hold them closed, as indicated in Fig. 9.

I contemplate in some cases employing drawers G sliding in the compartments G, as indicated at the left hand side of Fig. 4, and in Fig. 6, and in this case a frame II and doors L, L will constitute the outer end or visible portion of a drawer Gr.

I claim as my invention- 1. A table for displaying photographs or th like, consisting of a top and a suitable base, the said top having aseries of compartments around the edge thereof, each compartment provided` with a lid or cover hinged to enable it to be turned into a raised position, and the said lid or cover having iaffixed to its under side means for holding a photograph or the like, against said under side and the covers when raised forming a series of elevated picture holders extending around the top of the table, substantially as described.

2. A table for displaying photographs or the like, consisting of a top and a suitable base, the said top having compartments around the edge thereof, each compartment provided with a lid or cover hinged to enable it to be turned into a raised position, the said lid or cover having on its under side means for holding a photograph or the like, and each compartment having at the outer end thereof a movable cover or frame adapted to hold a photograph or the like, substantially as described.

A table for displaying photographs or the like, consisting of a top and a suitable base, the said top having compartments around the edge thereof, each compartment provided with a'lid or cover hinged to enable it to be turned into a raised position, the said lid or cover having on its under side means for holding a photograph or the like, and each compartment having at the outer end thereof a hinged cover or frame adapted to hold a photograph or the like, substantially as described.

4. The combination with a suitable base, of a table top having compartments around the edge thereof, each compartment provided with a lid or cover hinged to enable it to be turned into a raised position, and the said lid or cover having on its under side meansfor holding a photograph or the like, of a conical picture holder rising from the said table-top, substantially as described. l

5. The combination with a suitable base, of a table-top having compartments around the edge thereof, each compartment provided with a lid or cover hinged to enable it to be turned into a raised position, and the said lid or cover having on its under side means for holding a photograph or the like, of aconlcal picture holder rising from the said table-top, and consisting of a series of bars resting at their lower ends upon the table-top, provided with means for holding photographs or the like, and having a pivotal connection at their upper ends to enable them to be collapsed or opened apart, substantially as described.

G. The combination with a suitable base, of a table-top having a central hole, and compartments around the edge thereof, each compartment provided with a lid or cover hinged to enable it to be turned into a raised position, the said lid or cover having on its under side means for holding a photograph or the like, of a conical picture holder rising from the said table-top and consisting of a series of bars resting at their lower ends upon the table-top, provided with means for holding photographs or the like, and having a pivotal connection at their upper ends to enable them to be collapsed or opened apart, the said holder when collapsed being adapted to be dropped into the central hole aforesaid, substantially as described.

7. The combination with a suitable base, of a table-top having a central hole, and compartments around the edge thereof, each compartment provided with a lid or cover hinged to enable it to be turned :into a raised position, the said lid or cover having on its under side means for holding a photograph or the IOO IIO

like, and each compartment having at the outer end thereof a movable cover o1' frame adapted to hold a photograph or the like, of a conical picture holder rising from said 5 table-top and consisting of a series of bars resting at their lower ends upon the table top, provided with means for holding photographs or the like, and having a pivotal connection at their upper ends to enable them to be colro lapsed or opened apart, the said holder when collapsed being adapted to be dropped into the central hole "aforesaid, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of 15 two subscribing Witnesses, on this 19th day of September, A. D. 1892. l

FRANK. O. CLAFLIN.

Witnesses:

HERBERT S. RILEY, CEAS. A. BARNARD. 

